15th OCTOBER 2006.
A DAY FOR KESTRELS
We were back to normal today as Leon was once again in attendance. The weather forecast had been for bright sunshine but it was overcast and quite chilly. I did believe, however, that it would brighten up later in the day. The wind was quite stiff but not really cold. Not having to wait long for the ‘bus meant that we arrived in good time to have a quick look around before the doors opened.
As usual our first port of call was the Observatory. This enabled us to get our glasses on and to have a quick ‘shuftie’ around the site. The day started well as a Kestrel was mobbed by a pair of Crows just outside of the window. We had a superb view, as the birds were literally feet away! There were quite a few different species about; the day looked quite promising.
Moving to the ‘Wildside’ hide we went directly rather than around the Summer Walk because we saw a brilliant flash of colour and went to investigate. It was a young Green Woodpecker. There were a good number of different species of birds on view from the hide although most were waterfowl and ducks. The migrants that we hoped to see on the Grazing Marsh just did not appear. We were treated to some good views of a young Sparrowhawk that perched on the gate of the track over the weir. He didn’t stay long as a couple of Magpies soon rousted him from his position.
We moved back to the ‘Headley’ hide by way of the Summer Walk and, although we could hear lots of birdlife, didn’t manage to see much as there were still plenty of leaves left on the trees. The wind seemed to be keeping the little birds in the centre of the bushes and shrubs. We were also disappointed at the hide as the sun was shining straight towards us making viewing almost impossible.
Breakfast was next on the agenda. We ate heartily and moved on to the Waterlife area. Whilst walking around one of the small detours Leon noticed a small, colourful bird. “Reed Bunting” he said and as it flashed past I would have agreed. It was, however, not a Bunting but a Stonechat. A chap who was passing with his wife asked what it was and we got talking. All the while the Stonechat kept putting in appearances only feet away from us and Leon was able to take quite a few pictures. It turned out that this chap was one that I had been ‘talking’ to on one of the websites (Bird Form) that I now use. His name is Terry and I was jolly pleased to meet both him and his wife. I had sent him the email address of another site and he and his wife had booked to go on the same guided tour as Leon and I were to attend next week!
Parting, Leon and I went to the feeding station by the ‘Lagoon’ which was not as busy as usual. Perhaps this was because of the wind. Walking around the ‘Lagoon’ was also not very productive; again we could hear the birds but seeing them was another story. We did see a very strange squirrel though. This little animal was both Grey and Red in colour and also sported four little white ‘boots’! Very strange.
The ‘Wader Scrape’ hide was totally full when we arrived. There were certainly birds in numbers but not many species. We only stayed for a few minutes and moved on to the ‘Peacock Tower’.
It became quite apparent that we were not to see much from the ‘Tower’ either. Although the sun was, by now shining quite brightly and it was quite warm, the wind seemed to have picked up somewhat. We were unexpectedly treated to what must be a rare sight. A female Kestrel had caught and was devouring what appeared to be some kind of small mouse. She was eating not very far from the hide and was giving some lovely ‘photo opportunities to the people armed with cameras in the hide. Down swooped a young male Kestrel who proceeded to try to take the ‘mouse’ from the female. She was having none of it! There followed quite a fierce struggle for the food that lasted only a few moments but was well contested by both parties. The female kept her prize and the male ‘sulked’ a few feet away, pretending to be pouncing on other small creatures!
We made our way back to the shop via the feeding station and the smaller hides where Leon bought some food for his bird table/feeder.
This being Leons’ birthday, we decided not to stay too long in the ‘office’ as he had a dinner engagement later in the day. After a few pints and some good discussion on what we had seen we made our way homeward.
BIRDS SEEN: Kestrel, Greenfinch, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Feral Pigeon, Starling, Cormorant, Lapwing, Coot, Moorhen, Great Crested Grebe, Canada Goose, Tufted Duck, Heron, Shoveller, Herring Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Black Headed Gull, Teal, Ruddy Duck, Stock Dove, Jay, Blackbird, Robin, Green Woodpecker, Mute Swan, Gadwall, Pochard, Stonechat, Sparrowhawk, Little Grebe, Blue Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Goldfinch, Ring Necked Parakeet, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Wigeon, Common Snipe, Dunnock, Wren.
We were back to normal today as Leon was once again in attendance. The weather forecast had been for bright sunshine but it was overcast and quite chilly. I did believe, however, that it would brighten up later in the day. The wind was quite stiff but not really cold. Not having to wait long for the ‘bus meant that we arrived in good time to have a quick look around before the doors opened.
As usual our first port of call was the Observatory. This enabled us to get our glasses on and to have a quick ‘shuftie’ around the site. The day started well as a Kestrel was mobbed by a pair of Crows just outside of the window. We had a superb view, as the birds were literally feet away! There were quite a few different species about; the day looked quite promising.
Moving to the ‘Wildside’ hide we went directly rather than around the Summer Walk because we saw a brilliant flash of colour and went to investigate. It was a young Green Woodpecker. There were a good number of different species of birds on view from the hide although most were waterfowl and ducks. The migrants that we hoped to see on the Grazing Marsh just did not appear. We were treated to some good views of a young Sparrowhawk that perched on the gate of the track over the weir. He didn’t stay long as a couple of Magpies soon rousted him from his position.
We moved back to the ‘Headley’ hide by way of the Summer Walk and, although we could hear lots of birdlife, didn’t manage to see much as there were still plenty of leaves left on the trees. The wind seemed to be keeping the little birds in the centre of the bushes and shrubs. We were also disappointed at the hide as the sun was shining straight towards us making viewing almost impossible.
Breakfast was next on the agenda. We ate heartily and moved on to the Waterlife area. Whilst walking around one of the small detours Leon noticed a small, colourful bird. “Reed Bunting” he said and as it flashed past I would have agreed. It was, however, not a Bunting but a Stonechat. A chap who was passing with his wife asked what it was and we got talking. All the while the Stonechat kept putting in appearances only feet away from us and Leon was able to take quite a few pictures. It turned out that this chap was one that I had been ‘talking’ to on one of the websites (Bird Form) that I now use. His name is Terry and I was jolly pleased to meet both him and his wife. I had sent him the email address of another site and he and his wife had booked to go on the same guided tour as Leon and I were to attend next week!
Parting, Leon and I went to the feeding station by the ‘Lagoon’ which was not as busy as usual. Perhaps this was because of the wind. Walking around the ‘Lagoon’ was also not very productive; again we could hear the birds but seeing them was another story. We did see a very strange squirrel though. This little animal was both Grey and Red in colour and also sported four little white ‘boots’! Very strange.
The ‘Wader Scrape’ hide was totally full when we arrived. There were certainly birds in numbers but not many species. We only stayed for a few minutes and moved on to the ‘Peacock Tower’.
It became quite apparent that we were not to see much from the ‘Tower’ either. Although the sun was, by now shining quite brightly and it was quite warm, the wind seemed to have picked up somewhat. We were unexpectedly treated to what must be a rare sight. A female Kestrel had caught and was devouring what appeared to be some kind of small mouse. She was eating not very far from the hide and was giving some lovely ‘photo opportunities to the people armed with cameras in the hide. Down swooped a young male Kestrel who proceeded to try to take the ‘mouse’ from the female. She was having none of it! There followed quite a fierce struggle for the food that lasted only a few moments but was well contested by both parties. The female kept her prize and the male ‘sulked’ a few feet away, pretending to be pouncing on other small creatures!
We made our way back to the shop via the feeding station and the smaller hides where Leon bought some food for his bird table/feeder.
This being Leons’ birthday, we decided not to stay too long in the ‘office’ as he had a dinner engagement later in the day. After a few pints and some good discussion on what we had seen we made our way homeward.
BIRDS SEEN: Kestrel, Greenfinch, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Feral Pigeon, Starling, Cormorant, Lapwing, Coot, Moorhen, Great Crested Grebe, Canada Goose, Tufted Duck, Heron, Shoveller, Herring Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Black Headed Gull, Teal, Ruddy Duck, Stock Dove, Jay, Blackbird, Robin, Green Woodpecker, Mute Swan, Gadwall, Pochard, Stonechat, Sparrowhawk, Little Grebe, Blue Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Goldfinch, Ring Necked Parakeet, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Wigeon, Common Snipe, Dunnock, Wren.
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